Volunteer with us!
You will be a vital part of our mission-centered work
With the help of volunteers, Bird TLC can care for hundreds of birds in our rehabilitation clinic every year and provide hundreds of conservation education programs to K-12 students and the public.
Rehabilitation Volunteers: weekly shifts
Bird TLC treats hundreds of wild birds each year, from chickadees and robins to owls and eagles. Volunteers support staff to provide care and rehabilitation 7 days a week, year-round, in morning and afternoon shifts. This offers an unparalleled hands-on learning experience for anyone wanting to know more about the rehabilitation, feeding, and day-to-day care of wild birds. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one four-hour shift each week for six months. Special time commitments, such as every day in the summer, can be accommodated.
New volunteers are onboarded on a seasonal basis. Fall and winter applicants should expect to start in spring in preparation for the migration and breeding seasons when patient census is highest.
rehabilitation: On-call Rescue and Transport Volunteers
Individuals who call about injured or orphaned birds are not always able or willing to capture the bird or transport the bird they have captured to us. It is time-consuming for staff to leave their work in the rehabilitation clinic to respond to these situations.
Because timing may be essential to the survival of these birds, those who volunteer for this valuable service can know they are part of a team dedicated to helping our birds survive and fly free!
Rescue and Transport:
We will train you to safely capture birds (ravens and smaller) and supply you with kennels and nets as needed. The number of volunteers needed to respond to a call will be situation dependent. Typically one to two volunteers are needed per call.
Transport Only:
Volunteers are needed to pick up birds that callers have captured or birds that have been flown in to Anchorage.
Education Volunteers
Bird TLC’s Education team, including eight Ambassador Birds, introduces audiences to wild birds of Alaska through off-site presentations at schools, camps, community events, and on-site programs for youth and adults.
You'll join other caretakers and trainers to provide for the well-being of our eight Ambassador Birds and prepare them for programs using operant conditioning (positive reinforcement) training methods. Program presenters will share natural history and behavior information with audiences ranging from students to tour groups.
Education volunteers must follow the education training program, which includes a minimum of 12 programs a year, at least one education shift per week (including training and caretaking), and bimonthly training meetings.
facility maintanaince
Help keep our facility looking good and functioning smoothly! Projects include small construction, general maintenance, and landscaping.
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
We ask volunteers to commit to one shift a week for at least 6 months due to the training involved.
Rehabilitation shifts are from 9 am - 1 pm and 1 pm - 5 pm
Education shifts are from 10 am - 2 pm, but may include evenings, weekends and holidays depending on the program schedule
Volunteers must provide proof of current tetanus vaccination.
Volunteers must provide proof of current COVID-19 vaccination.
Volunteer rescuers and transporters and education presenters must provide proof of auto insurance.
Volunteers must pass a background check before they can begin their first shift. There is a $15 fee for background checks.
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the form below or click here for a printable volunteer application.
Thank you!